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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. L. BEALL. CHECK ROW PLANTER.

No. 588,313. Patented/Aug. 17,1897.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I W. L. BE A'LL CHECK ROW PLANTER. No.588,313. Patented Aug. 17,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM LESLIE BEALL, OF ALBION, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE GALEMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

I-CH ECK-ROW PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,313, dated August17', 1897.

Application filed May 19, 1897.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LESLIE BEALL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Albion, in the county of Calhoun and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check-RowPlanters;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention is an improvement in planters; and it consists incertain improved constructions and combinations of parts which render itmore desirable for use and effective in operation.

The best form in which 1 I have contemplated embodying my invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings and is disclosed in thefollowing description and claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the main portions of aplanter having my improvements attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the same. Fig. 3 is a view of the friction retarding device for thereel. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionalview of the seedbox, and Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. '7 isa sectional view showing my method of constructing the reel itself. Fig.8 is a longitudinal section of the outer end of one of the arms of thespider g.

In the figures, A is the main frame, which issupported on wheels in theusual manner. This frame extends to the rear of the wheels and axle andsustains two standards a a, which support reel 0 for carrying theknotted cord or wire used with check-row planters. The bearing at oneend of the reel-shaft C is of any ordinary or suitable description,while the bearing at the other end is of a peculiar construction,constituting, with the means for driving the reel, one of the featuresof my present invention. To the standard ct at one side of the machineis secured a short bracket 0 The outer end of-this bracket is slotted,as most clearly shown in Fig. 4:. From said slot the bracket is recessedinwardly, so as to receive the inner end of a Serial No. 637,269. (N5model.)

spring (Z. The outer end of this spring bears against the bearing-blockD, located in the slot of the bracket and held from escaping therefromby the pin d. In the inner end of the said bracket is mounted thescrew(:1 having a broad head bearing against the inner end of the spring (1.

On shaft 0 is mounted the grooved pulley c, which is provided with theannular flange c. This flange extends Over the projection 0 extendingtoward the pulley from the bracket 0 as shown in Fig. 3 in full linesand in dotted lines in Fig. 4. YA sprocketchain e extends from asprocket-wheel E on the axle of the machine over the pulley c and servesto drive the reel.

When windingup the cord or wire on the reel, it will be seen that as thecord ,or wire accumulates on the reel it willbe taken up faster thanwhen the'reel is empty. The driving mechanism is always givensufficientspeed to take up the cord or,wire as fast as desired when the reel isempty. 'It is therefore desirable that there shall be provision for alittle slip or lost motion in the means for driving the reel.

In my construction, as the size of the mass on the reel is increased,the grooved pulley permits the sprocket-chain to slip, so that themovement of the reel accommodates itself to the condition of thewinding, while maintaining a draw or strain on the cord or wire.

When the cord or wire is to be laid across a field from the reel, thesprocket-chain is slipped from the pulley c, as the mechanism fordriving the reel would, if allowed to operate upon it, turn the same inthe Wrong direction. If, however, the reel were allowed to run freelyunder the tension of-the cord or wire, the momentum given the reel wouldoccasion great annoyance. by the friction. between the fiange c and theprojection 0 The draw of the sprocket-chain when upon the pulleyordinarily keeps these parts separated, but when the chain is removedthe spring brings them into contact and the amount of friction requiredcan be regulated by the screw d This is prevented The yielding bearing Dserves to prevent breakage in case the chain should ride up on one ormore of the projections of the sprocketwheel and at all times the springd serves to keep the sprocket-chain taut.

It is desirable that the reel should be light as well as strong. It isalso desirable that the surfaces which are engaged by the wire or cordshould be broad and curved somewhat to prevent sharp bends in the cordor wire when wound upon the reel. To accomplish these results, Iconstruct the reel as best shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The reelconsists of the shaft C, the end pieces or spiders g g, the bars 9 g,and the rods g 9 The arms of the end pieces 9 g are each provided with acurved groove or shoulder h h, curved as shown in Fig. 7, and the bars 9are made of sheet metal and curved as shown. These bars are inserted inthe grooves or upon the shoulders h and the rods 9 inserted and drawntightlyby nuts upon one or both ends, rigidly securing the parts of thereel together. The rods 9 are immediately beneath the bars g and in caseof any yielding of the bars they come in contact with the rods g andboth bear the strain. This construction secures a cheap and exceedinglylight reel.

In rotary-disk planters each planter is provided with several disks,each having apertures differing in size and number to correspond to thegrain and work it is desired to do. In changing the disks after removingthe one previously used much annoyance is experienced in getting all ofthe grain out of the hopper in which it revolves in order to placetherein the one desired for immediate work. In order to facilitate thechanging of these disks, I provide my grain box or hopper with aremovable section or door, by means of which the grain can be readilyremoved therefrom.

In the drawings, B is the hopper or seedbox, and b the disk. The bottomof this hopper is provided at one side with an opening B.

B is a plate pivoted at b. This plate has a notch or open slot to engagea securing-bolt b which is provided with a winged nut. \Vhen the plateis placed over the opening B, the nut is turned tightly against it tohold it in position. When it is desired to remove seed or grain, thenutis loosened, and the plate turned outward, permitting the grain toflow downwardly through the opening B.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a check-row planter the combination with a reel, of a groovedpulley secured to the shaft of the same, a sprocket-wheel, and asprocket-chain engaging said sprocket-wheel and grooved pulley, wherebyprovision is made for slip between the reel and its driving mechanism,substantially as described.

2. In a check-row planter the combination with a reel, of a groovedpulley secured to the shaft of the same, a sprocket-wheel and asprocket-chain engaging the sprocket-wheel and grooved pulley, afriction device engagin g said pulley to retard the movement of thesame, substantially as described.

In a check-row planter, the combination with a reel having one end ofits shaft mounted in a movable bearing, a spring engaging said bearing,and means for increasing or decreasing the pressure of the spring uponsaid bearing, a pulley on the reel-shaft provided with a flange and afixed projection extending into close proximity to said flange,substantially as described.

4. In a check-row planter, the combination with a reel having one endofits shaft mounted in a movable bearing, a spring engaging said bearingand means forincreasingand decreasing the pressure of the spring, on thesaid bearing, a pulley on the reel-shaft provided with afriction-flange, a support for the movable shaft-bearing having aprojection extending into close proximity to said flange, substantiallyas described.

5. In a planter, a seedbox having a rotary disk for delivering seedtherefrom, said box being provided with a movable plate, controllingmeans for discharging seed from said box, substantially as described.

6. In a planter, a seedbox having arotary disk for delivering seedtherefrom, said seedbox having an aperture leading from said box, and amovable plate for closing said opening, substantially as described.

7. In a planter, the combination with the reel, of a yielding bearingfor one end of the reel-shaft, a grooved pulley mounted on saidreel-shaft, a sprocket-wheel and a chain engaging the sprocket-wheel andpulley substantially as described.

8. A reel composed of the two spiders or ends, the curved bars engagingthe arms and the securing-rods in close proximity to the concave side ofsaid bars, substantially as described.

9. A reel composed of the two ends or spiders, the arms of which beingprovided with curved shoulders, curved bars engaging said shoulders andthe securing-rods in close proximity to the concave side of said bars,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM LESLIE BEALL.

\Vitnesses:

M. D. WEEKS, HOLLAND L. PARMETER.

